The prisoner of war exchange procedure is not applicable to Ukraine's jailed ex-military as she is charged with complicity to murder

MOSCOW, February 12. /TASS/. Ukraine's jailed ex-military Nadezhda Savchenko facing criminal charges in Russia has no chances of being released under the prisoners of war exchange arrangement between Ukraine and the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics, Civic Chamber representative Georgy Fyodorov and member of the presidential council for the promotion of civil society and human rights, Alexander Brod, have told a news conference in Moscow.

"She is not just a prisoner of war. That woman is charged under grave articles of the Criminal Code - complicity to murder of two Russian journalists," Brod said. "All formalities must be observed - investigation, trial, and impartial consideration of serious charges, and a verdict if she is guilty or not guilty, to be followed by punishment or release," Brod believes.

"The POW exchange procedure is not applicable to her. There is justice and mandatory rules that have to be observed," he said.

"I believe there will be an exchange between the Donetsk and Luhansk republics and Ukraine," he said.

State Duma International Affairs Committee chairman Alexey Pushkov earlier said that Russian law offers no automatic freedom for accused Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko and innocence must be proven in court.